Flatwork ironer



May 10; 1932. J. H. SKITT FLATWORK IRONER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 1, 1929 Jamasj-Lsiw ttaryz'e y.

May 10, 1932. J. H. SKITT 1,857,290

FLATWORK IRONER Filed May 1, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Adm nay May 10, 1932. .1. 1+ 'SKITT FLATWORK IRONER Filed May 1. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 i? n .1 I

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Patented May 10, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES H. SKITT, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO SMITH, DRUM 86 COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, rENNsYLvANIA, A CORPORATION VANIA.

0F PENNSYL- FLATWORK IBONER Application filed May 1, 1929. Serial No..359,454.

My invention relates to flat work ironers and has for its object toprovide improved means for adjusting the pressure roller frame and the apron ti htening frame in such manner that the mechanisms for acting on both frames are interconnected so that the lowering of the pressure roller frame into operative position will occur simultaneously with the raising of the apron tightening frame into itsoperative position. Means are provided for a certain freedom of movementto allow for further adjustment of the pressure roller frame without materially disturbing the operating position of the apron tightening frame. This method of acting-upon the two frames is,broadly speaking, not new with me. My invention consists in improved mechanism for effecting the results indicated, the leading feature of which is the employment of means for supporting and adjusting the pressure roll frame, and a pair of toggle links adapted when in approximately parallel positions to support the apron frame in operative position, these toggle links being actuated through'means which actuate the roll frame and preferably by a rotary device in the nature of a crank or eecentric moving synchronously with the means for adjusting the roll frame and connected to the toggles through a connecting rod, the device in the nature of a crank and the conneoting rod, being so adjusted as to be approXimately on dead center when the links and the toggle are straightened out. Another feature of my invention consists in the use in connection with the toggle, of means for connecting the toggle with the apron frame, including a spring under increased tension as the toggles are straightened out and which tends, as the toggle links are 'moved away from parallel positions, to hold the apron sition during the early part of such movement of the toggle links.

The nature of my improvements will be best understood as described in connection with the drawingswhich illustrate a machine provided with my improvements and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the end of a .struction of the upper which is placed frame in fixed po-- fiat honor to which the apron supporting frame is attached, the parts being shown in operative position.

Figure 2 is a similar elevation showing the parts in the position they occupy where the roll frame and apron frame are moved to nonoperative positions; c

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, showing the construction of the roll frame and the device immediately operating upon it, the steam box being omitted.

of features of contoggle link and the means by which it is connected to the apron frame, the part'sbeing -Figure 4 is adetail shown in the position they occupy when the toggle links are in the position shown in Figure 1, and

Figure '5 is a similar view showing the parts in the position they occupy when the apron is lowered, as shown in Figure 2.

r A indicates the frame-work of themachine. B is the steam box of usual construction. is the frame which supports the ironing rolls, indicated at C C roller frame with which areconnected connecting rods G on the lower ends of which are eccentric straps C connected with eccentrics D D secured on the shafts indicated at D and D D D are crank arms secured-on the shaft D and D is a worm wheel, one such C indicate pins on the wheel being secured to each shaft D and D through which the shafts are connected by worms E E on the shaft E, which shaft is at will rotated in either direction by any convenient means, that indicated in the drawings being bymeans of bevel wheel E and E running loosely on the shaft and actuated in different directions by a gear wheel E2 the clutch F keyed to the shaft being at will moved to couple either of the bevel wheels to the shaft. F indicates the mechanism for shifting the clutch.

G is the apron supporting frame which is pivoted to the machine frame, as indicated at G, and to which are connected pins indicated at G through which the frameis supported and adjusted. The apron frame as shown is provided with slots, indicated at H and H in which are adjustably supported the journal bearings H and H of apron supporting K; thelower ply of the apron passes, as

shown, over the guide drums or rolls indi cated at K K L indicates the lower apron supported on the drum P, the upper ply passing over the guide roll K and underthegu-ide roll K and the lower ply under the guide roll K Referring next to the mechanism for actuating the apron frame, thiscon'sists of toggle links M and M the lower one supported on a fixed pivot, indicated at M, and the links being coupled together by a pinindicated at M The upper link M is chambered out and provided with guideways, as indicated at M the chamber enclosing 0 At the base of the chamber in the toggle link a cross bar M is. formed in which is provided a seat M for a nut indicated at 0. Through this nut passes a screw 0 having a squared end 0 which screw supports a plate 0 which in turn supports a spring 0*. The upper end of this springbears against a plate 0 which moves in a. guideway indicated at M and in its uppermost position bears against a stop ledge indicated at M? and upon this plate 0 is supported a box 0 through which extends the pin Gr secured to the apron frame. It will be observed that the box 0 is free to move upward from contact with the plate M through an extension of the slot formed in the upper end of the toggle link.

N is a coupling rod coupledat one end to the crank pin at the end of the crank arm D and at the other end coupled, as shown, to the pin M by which the toggle links are coupled together. The toggle links are so disposed that when straightened out, so that they will lie approximately parallel to each other, they will hold the apron frame in operative position, asshown in Figure 1. preferably holding it in contact with a stop P In this position the spring 0 will be somewhat compressed and the plate 0 the stop M as shown in Figure 4. When the toggle links are moved to, the position shown in Figure 2, the spring is fully expanded and the plate 0 in contact with the stop M as shown in Figure This coupling of the toggl'e to the apron frame thorough a spring, the tension of which is increased as the apron frame is brought to operative position, en-

ables the frame to remaln, in operative position for a short time after the toggle links commence their movement away from parallehsm.

The toggles are actuated through the crank a spring indicated at moved somewhat away from I arms ,D and the links or connecting rods N and the crank D are so disposed that the cranks and connecting rods are approximate the toggle links to the position shown in Fig- .ure 2.

It will of course be obvious that the mechanism for actuating the toggles and the described mechanism for adjusting the roll frames are interconnected, and interconnected in such a way that as the pressure roll frame is moved downward into operative position near the steam chest by the eccentrics to which it isconnected, the apron roll frame is simultaneously moved upward into its operative position. This movement takes place when the crank which operates the toggle links is moving toward the upper dead center. Due to the connecting link being very short in proportion to. the throw of the crank, also on accountof the toggle links being approximately parallel at this point, a considerable mo-ve-- ment ofthe crank operating mechanism can be made on either side of the dead center without causing any appreciable-movement of the apron roll frame. This feature will enable the operator of the machine to adjust the working pressure of the I'OllS',OI1 the steam chest without materially disturbing the tension on the apronsQ It will be understood that thebox 0 normally remains in contact with the plate 0". The reason for making the box separable from the plate and giving it freedom to move upward in the slot at theend of the toggle link is to provide for a possible contingency in which some obstacle prevents the lowering of the apron frame to the full extent of its contemplated movement; in such a case, the

arrested movement of the apron frame which of course arrests the downward movement of the box O jdoes not prevent the toggle linkcontinuing its downward movement.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isz

1.. In a'flat work ironingmachine having an adjustable frame for carrying the ironing rolls an adjustable frame for tighteningand relaxing the apron, toggle links adapt-ed to actuate the apron frame and arrange to hold the apron frame in apron tightening position while the toggle links are in substantially parallel'positions and a spring located between the link connected with the apron frame and said apron frame in such manner as to be put under compression as the toggle raises the frame to apron tightening position, in combination with means for adjusting the roll frame and means interconnecting the mechanism for adjusting the roll frame with the toggle links for actuating the apron frame acting to flex the toggle as the roll frame is elevated.

2. In a flat Work ironing machine having an adjustable frame for carrying the ironing rolls and an adjustable frame for tightening and relaxing the apron, toggle links adapted to actuate the apron frame and arranged to hold the apron frame in apron tightening position While the toggle links are in substantially parallel positions and means for ad justing the roll frame and means interconnecting the mechanism for adjusting the roll frame with the toggle links for actuating the apron frame acting to flex the toggle as the roll frame is elevated, the specific means for actuating the bell tightening frame comprising the means for directly acting on the toggle links consisting of a crank moving in unison With'the means for adjusting the roller frame and a connecting rod coupling said crank to the toggle, said crank and connecting rod being so disposed as to be approximately on dead center When the toggle links are parallel, and means for connecting the toggle links to the apron frame including a spring which is put under increased tension as the toggle links strai hten out.

JA ES H. SKITT. 

